Zazzle is a marketplace first. It’s basically a giant library of designer-made templates (some great, some… aggressively not) plus on-demand printing. You’re shopping designs almost as much as you’re shopping cardstock.
Canva is a design platform first. The big sell is: design your card in the editor you probably already use, then hit print without exporting files and juggling printers. It’s more “design tool that also prints” than “print shop with templates.”
Quality
Canva tends to be more predictable for “normal business card” expectations: clean type, consistent colors, and decent stock choices. One reason is that Canva’s print flow is built around guardrails like automated proofing checks (it flags low resolution and cut-off risks), plus it’s fulfilled through print partners rather than one marketplace pipeline.
Zazzle’s ceiling can be high, especially if you pick the right paper. Their Signature Matte is a substantial 18pt stock, and they offer genuinely nice upgrades like Premium Linen (textured) and Premium Thick (32pt). The catch is that Zazzle’s floor is lower than you want it to be, which is where the “inconsistent” reputation comes from. There are also creator-side forum threads complaining about print quality issues (color, smudging, blurry output), which is not what you love to read right before ordering 500 cards.
PrintReviewer take: if you want cards that feel like “a real business card,” Canva is the safer bet. Zazzle can absolutely deliver nice cards too, but you’re rolling a slightly bigger die.
Price and Value
Pricing moves around on both platforms, but here’s the vibe:
- Canva is usually priced like a convenience service. You’re paying for the “design it and print it here” simplicity, and sometimes free or cheap shipping options help soften the blow. It’s rarely the rock-bottom cheapest, but it can be a reasonable deal if you value time and simplicity.
- Zazzle runs sales constantly. It’s very common to see discounted pricing on 100-card packs, then add-ons for rounded corners and premium papers. The base paper can be affordable, but upgrades stack quickly.
If you’re comparing Zazzle vs Canva business cards purely on cost, it usually comes down to whether you’ll use premium paper upgrades (Zazzle) or whether you’re optimizing for speed and convenience (Canva).
Design, Templates, and Customization
This is where both are strong, but in different ways.
Canva
- Best-in-class editor for non-designers.
- Brand kit workflows are excellent if multiple people need to make cards that look like they belong to the same company.
- Easy export options if you decide to print elsewhere later.
Zazzle
- The marketplace is the whole thing. If you need a hyper-specific style (certain professions, quirky aesthetics, niche hobbies), Zazzle is hard to beat.
- Customization is straightforward, but it’s still “editing a template on a product page,” not working in a full design system.
If you already live in Canva for everything else, designing cards anywhere else feels like going back to dial-up. If you want a design that looks like it came from a boutique stationery shop without hiring anyone, Zazzle’s marketplace is a cheat code.
Customer Service
Both offer ways out when things go wrong, but the tone is different.
Zazzle leans on a satisfaction guarantee style return policy. In plain English: if you don’t like what you received, there’s a window to request replacement, credit, or refund (with exceptions).
Canva positions print support more like “we’ll make it right” for print issues, but it’s also explicit that print is handled via partners and delivery timelines are estimates. Also, like most printers, “I changed my mind” and “I uploaded the wrong file” are not the same thing as “you printed it wrong.”
Practical advice: if you’re ordering cards for an event date, don’t pick the company you hope will fix a mistake. Pick the one that’s least likely to create the mistake in the first place.
Ordering Experience and Tools
Canva’s ordering experience is the main reason it wins for a lot of small businesses. You design the card and order it in the same place. There’s less file export drama, fewer “wait, did I include bleed?” moments, and fewer last-minute format surprises.
Zazzle’s ordering experience is more like shopping. You pick a design (or start from scratch), then customize, then choose paper, corner style, quantity, and shipping. The upside is you get a surprisingly deep paper menu for a marketplace printer. The downside is you can accidentally spend 45 minutes comparing paper types like you’re buying a mattress.
Turnaround Time and Shipping
Canva
- One big advantage is pickup options in the US and Canada through partners like FedEx Office and Staples, which can be a lifesaver if you need cards quickly.
- In-store pickup can cut out the shipping variable entirely, which is nice when you have an event and a calendar that does not care about your shipping confirmation email.
Zazzle
- Offers multiple domestic shipping speeds, including expedited options, and publishes typical delivery windows by shipping tier.
- Important detail: larger quantities can extend production timelines, and the available speed options can vary by product and destination.
If speed is the whole game, Canva’s pickup option can be the deciding factor. If you’re fine with standard shipping and just want choices, Zazzle is perfectly workable.
Use Cases / Best For
Canva is best for
- Teams who already design in Canva and want the simplest possible print flow.
- Last-minute networking needs, especially if pickup is available near you.
- “Normal” business cards that need to look clean, consistent, and professional without you becoming a part-time print production manager.
Zazzle is best for
- Niche design shopping, where the template marketplace is the point.
- Paper experimentation without going full boutique printer (linen, thick stock, specialty colors).
- People who want a card design that feels less corporate, more “creator marketplace.”
If you want truly premium “wow” cards
Neither is the top-tier “paper nerd” destination. If you want thick cores, wild finishes, edge painting, or boutique-level consistency, you usually end up shopping the specialist printers instead of design platforms and marketplaces.
Pros and Cons
Zazzle – Pros
- Huge marketplace of designs across basically every niche imaginable
- Lots of paper choices (including premium textured and ultra-thick options)
- Frequent sales and promos
- Strong stated return policy structure
Zazzle – Cons
- Print consistency is the main risk
- Upgrades add up fast (premium papers, rounded corners, rush shipping)
- Customer support reputation is more uneven than dedicated print shops
Canva – Pros
- Smoothest design-to-print workflow for non-designers
- Automated proofing reduces common file mistakes
- Pickup options can be a big deal for deadlines
- Strong “make it right” positioning for print issues
Canva – Cons
- You’re buying convenience, not bargain-basement pricing
- Print is fulfilled through partners, so experience can vary by location/product
- Not the best fit if you want exotic materials or very specialty finishes
Final Verdict
If you’re deciding between Zazzle vs Canva business cards, Canva is our pick for most businesses. It’s the better “adult in the room” option: fewer moving parts, fewer opportunities to accidentally order something weird, and a workflow that makes reorders simple.
Zazzle is still worth it when the design marketplace is what you’re actually shopping for, or when you want a broader paper menu and you’re comfortable trading a bit of consistency for variety.